Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-07-08
THE JUNIOR PARTNER.
BY MANDA L. cRoCKER.

BY MANDA Il. CROCKER.
Alner Byrne was in one of his ways, and
another of the trying times was inevitable.
The outer door shut with a bang, suggest
i've Of temper; the frown on his face grew
darker and he strobe savagely down street
and out Of sight. A woman looked after
him moment, and then with sigh went
back to her work in the next room.
10 look at her one would not imagine
that aught Of happiness had ever lighted
up the pale, drawn face, or shone from the
great sad eyes. Five years previous, how
ever, there were smiles. and bright ones,
too. but, presto change; she was not the
wife OF the passionate, unreasonable man
then, who just now had slammed the hall
door after him, and who, invariably, tossed
aside his Company manners on entering his
own house. e
Long after her husband had left the
house she sat there busy with the riddle of
her life. Each trying time" as she de-
nominated Abners outbursts of temper,
seemed dreary milestones measuring off
loves descent, as her regard and respect
for his wishes, bright domestic dreams,
and finally her great love for him came to the
place Of the Offering up. After that every
thing had gone as it might, and she had
stepped down from the ideal heights, level
after level, until to-day she sat caring for
little else than to be rid OF it all.
Il believe will get my zephyr and try
the new STITCH" she said finally, coming
back from the past and trying to forget the
wretched drift of her thoughts.
The piazza was cool and inviting, and
just where the roses dropped and nodded
in the sweet weather, Eleanor Byrne
drew the favorite sleepy willow chair, and
began crotcheting. But the "new stitch"
was not success, Judging from the pre-
picked air of the knitter and the long
pauses between endeayors.
IL must see the rules again." she
said, rising. After the rules had been
consulted, the new stitch" threw itself into
an exquisite pattern under the practical
touch Of the deft fingers.
"How pretty" she exclaimed, holding it
up TO good advantage, where the afternoon
sun flickered through the lattice of vines
and danced over her sunny hair and the
work together.
"Tve mind to answer that advertise
ment in the Journal, and obtain work.
Ladies Can made from 50 to $4 dollars per
day at hone," quoting from memory, land
if 1 could Dc that I shouldn't be such a
drag on Abner's hands, and hear of i,
every tme l want cent or an article of
droas.
The patient mouth quivered into silence,
and two bright tears fell UNDECIDED on the
exquisite pattern in zephyr just completed.
Poor little woman! Somehow she felt that
her habitation Of t'sweet domesticily" had
been built upon the sand, and that these
storms of angry passion We're fast
sweeping out the foundations thereof
These Crying times" always frightened
her SO, and it seemed an utter impossi.
bility TO get accustomed 10 them
Ever since Abners first tantrum, when she
had fed in terror down the green lane OF
her country home to the woodland be-
You'd, vaguely questioning herself "was
this really Abner?" these fits of temper hac
terrified her.
The question had come that day from
the depths of her atfrightened soul, where
covering shrinking down in pain from its
first terrible wound, her love was trying tc
reassert itself. But these days her aztec.
ton made no fight for the supremacy. only
covered and shrank the more near the altar
wherein the incense burned no longer.
"Wonder what's a-troublin' her!" solilo
quized the postman, thrusting his hant
through the open window ind dropping
the mail on the table before the pale littl,
wife and turning away. "Seems paler ant
paler; I know somethin is a. worryin' her
Well, every one of us pore mortals has t.
have somethin' to kinder hold him level
an keep the fact before him that this is tn,
vale O tears. Theirs is death, l reckon,
he concluded, slipping letter with a blacl
seal to the boy next door, and going OF
his way.
She looked over the mail, singing GU
the one letter she was expecting. "Woult
be pleased have you call, as you live 81
near there are several kinds of work, an,
perhaps you would like to choose for your
SELF" was what the missive said.
II will 60, Or my names not Eleano
Byone." A determined look came owe
the weary looking face, and faint blusl
crept into her wan cheek, bringing out il
delicate tint the loneliness which had sadl,
waned since the trying times began.
II know Abner would not like to hav
me take in work, butt doesn't matter; i
am nothing to him any more my choic
of employment need not concern hin
either. He really doesn't care for me much
know, and cannot love him because h
won't let me. Oh he's killing ever,
emotion of love try to keep alive for him